When the Maga era eventually concludes and political conditions shift, there will inevitably be calls to move on rather than pursue accountability for the actions taken during this period. Such arguments, suggesting that investigations or trials are merely vindictive, have appeared throughout American history, including after the Civil War and Watergate. These calls to ignore the past are misguided, as holding those responsible for the current climate of enforcement accountable is essential.
This accountability must extend to every level of ICE, from the uniformed officers on the streets to the contractors in detention centers and the officials in Washington who drafted the legal justifications for these operations. Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil litigation must be removed, and liability should be made retroactive. Beyond the systemic abolition of ICE, those responsible for its conduct must be removed from public life.
The urgency of this demand is highlighted by recent fatal encounters. Last Tuesday in Houston, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old father of three, was shot and killed by an ICE agent while driving to work. Having lived in Texas for 35 years after immigrating from Mexico at 17, Salgado was simply giving three co-workers a ride. Those passengers were subsequently taken into ICE custody. It later emerged that agents were targeting a different individual entirely. ICE claimed Salgado attempted to run them down, an account contested by witnesses, mirroring the disputed claims made regarding the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Shortly thereafter, 25-year-old Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was killed in Biddeford, Maine. Born in Colombia, Durán held a work permit as an asylum claimant and supported his wife and three-year-old daughter through two jobs. According to witnesses, including his young daughter, ICE agents rammed his car and shot him through the driver’s side window at approximately 7 am. Senator Angus King of Maine reported that DHS secretary Markwayne Mullen confirmed ICE was looking for someone else during the incident.
These deaths follow the killings of two US citizens in Minneapolis, Renee Good and nurse Alex Pretti, which triggered national protests. While public pressure previously led to the removal of border patrol commander Greg Bovino and Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem, ICE raids have since resumed with continued intensity. Residents, such as Maria Cervantes in Houston, have expressed profound fear regarding these targeted operations. Rebuilding a free and pluralistic democracy requires ensuring that those responsible for these deaths face justice and that the nation refuses to simply forget those lost to this regime.
Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.